Ottawa gets $38.5M under Gas Tax program to expand transit services

By Dani-Elle Dubé

To help Ottawa expand and improve its transit and transportation infrastructure, the Ontario government has given Ottawa $38.5 million — the largest recipient of funding under the program in eastern Ontario.

The Ontario government announced the funding on Friday, adding that in total, 109 municipalities and 144 communities in the province also received various amounts in funding under the Gas Tax program.

“Our government is helping municipalities including Ottawa sustain and improve their public transit networks now and for the future,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “This funding is a reliable source of long-term transit funding municipalities can count on to help operate and expand existing public transit services, ensuring people have access to safe and reliable transportation when they need it most.”

The province provided $375 million for the program.

The communities receiving funding from the program represent more than 92 per cent of Ontario’s total population.

Funding is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year.

Municipalities supporting public transit services in the community receive two centre per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected.

The funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade infrastructure.

“Stable and reliable investments in public transportation play a critical role in supporting transit in the nation’s capital,” Mayor Jim Watson said in a statement. “Continued collaboration between all levels of government will help us further achieve our goals and support new projects.”

In 2020, Ottawa used most of its Gas Tax funds on operating expenditure to support service change and growth. Some funds were also used to support maintenance and improvements to Transitway and O-Train station.

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